Things related to the brain have filled my head ever since childhood. My interest in the brain stemmed from watching brain games on National Geographic. I recall spending evenings trying my best not to get fooled by the host. I found my love for neurosurgery embedded in Ben Carson’s autobiography, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story. This summer was just like the others; my mom had brought out a pile of books for my sister and me to select from. I chose the smallest book in the pile so I had time to play tennis in the evening. Little did I know that the smallest book would have the most significant impact on the trajectory of my life. Despite having to look up several words, I was so fascinated that he was able to separate the conjoined twins and not destroy their nerves, which were also connected, that I decided then and there that I was going to become a neurosurgeon. I aim to advance the field of neurosurgery through research. My research interest stemmed from when I participated in a lab for my biology class. To satisfy my curiosity, I sought research opportunities and was fortunate to engage in an eight-week research internship over the summer. My experience as a research intern solidified my decision to have a neurosurgery career. Attending a Black Men in White Coats program made me realize the need for people of color in the medical field, not just in neurosurgery but in general. All this is why I believe neuroscience is for me. Before this revelation, I always aspired to be a doctor. Growing up in Nigeria, a lot of people close to me had medical conditions that could easily be corrected if medical care was available–like my uncle, who has never been able to use his right hand since birth. This is one of the many reasons I want to be a doctor. Besides that, the majority of people cannot afford medical care, so their illnesses go undiagnosed and untreated. For example, I remember driving and seeing a man with a mental illness roaming the streets, all because he and his family couldn't afford healthcare. I was more assured that I wanted to become a doctor when I had to visit the urgent care. A man had come in and fainted in the doorway. I was fascinated by how quickly the medical personnel in the lobby responded and got him hooked up to oxygen. My goals extend beyond the operating room. I envision building a hospital or clinic in Nigeria, providing affordable medical care to those in need. I see this as a way to give back to the community I grew up in.

Most people are often disappointed when they meet me and learn I don’t play basketball, given my six-foot-two frame. The fact that I play tennis and swim does little to change their disappointment. These conversations usually end with advice to redirect my focus and aim for the NBA, accompanied by the occasional remark that I am a “ waste of height.” However, these comments don’t faze me because I know I am meant to play on a different court–I am destined to become a remarkable doctor. I have always aspired to be a doctor. Growing up in Nigeria, I witnessed many people close to me who faced medical conditions that could have easily been corrected with access to proper healthcare—like my uncle, who has never been able to use his right hand since birth. This experience is one of the many reasons I want to become a doctor. Additionally, I recognized that most people cannot afford medical care, so their illnesses go undiagnosed and untreated. I recall driving through my community and seeing a man with a mental illness roaming the streets, simply because he and his family unfortunately could not afford healthcare. My determination to become a doctor was further reinforced during a visit to an urgent care facility. A man fainted at the entrance, and I was fascinated by how quickly the medical personnel responded, hooking him up to oxygen. All I needed was a specialty to aim for. I discovered my passion for neurosurgery embedded in pages of Ben Carson’s autobiography, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story. One summer, just like the others, my mom brought out books for my sister and me to choose from. I picked the smallest book in the pile so I had time to play tennis in the evening. Little did I know that this small book would have the most significant impact on the trajectory of my life. Despite having to look up several words, I was fascinated by Carson's ability to separate the conjoined twins without harming their interconnected nerves. It was then that I decided I would become a neurosurgeon. I aim to advance the field of neurosurgery through research. My research interest began during a lab for my biology class. Soon after, I sought research opportunities and was fortunate to engage in an eight-week research internship over the summer. This experience expanded my knowledge of how mutations affect sodium channels and solidified my commitment to research as I pursue my career in neurosurgery. The knowledge I've gained from taking college health courses in high school, the hands-on experience from lab activities and research, and my experiences growing up have prepared me for the next step to becoming a neurosurgeon and made me the right person to pursue this feat. Beyond the operating room, I dream of building a hospital in Nigeria to provide affordable medical care and address healthcare disparities in the community I grew up in. I believe this would be my contribution to tackling healthcare disparities worldwide.